Nipponia Sado Aikawa Gold Mining Town

The hosts made everything easy, even booking restaurants for us, and the location was ideal for exploring Sado, with plenty of good places to eat nearby. We stayed in Fune, a comfortable room for two with a lovely bathroom. The hotel feels like a little jewel box, set in beautifully renovated houses. Just perfect.

There was loads to see and do, and the staff really wanted us to experience local life. Their hospitality made us feel closer to the locals than we ever have on a trip, and we felt so welcome from the start.

The staff gave us a helpful introduction to the rooms at Kubota House, just a minute's walk from Shimizu House, so we could picture how people lived there in the past. On their recommendation, we went to "Yoinomai." We also had breakfast with an ocean view at Kyomachi Chaya, about a 20-minute walk away. Breakfast in the room seems to be an option too, but I'd recommend Kyomachi Chaya. It was a lovely way to experience Sado Island alongside the local community.

Mr. Amemiya, the owner of Kurumaza, made our stay especially memorable. He told us about the area and went out of his way to help my father-in-law collect Goshuin (temple/shrine stamps). He even came along, showed us around, and took us to a special spot overlooking the Kitazawa ore dressing plant. The inn is also lovely: Chozo is a modern place renovated from an old pottery kiln. The room has solid wood furnishings, high-quality pieces, organic amenities, and a half-unit bathroom with cypress across the upper half. It was renovated about a year ago, and you can still smell the cypress. The official website has lots of photos. This kind of stay offers a taste of Japan and seems popular with foreign visitors, many of whom were there, but I think Japanese guests can enjoy it just as much. Highly recommended, and thank you.